I lived by the sea

collecting sand and water in a sieve to see what I could see

When I was three

there were five more of us all under the age of eight, four brothers and a sister, making six

two parents, a house, a few blocks away – we’d walk to play in the biggest playground I’d ever seen

When I was three

life was simple

play and nap

eat and snack

until the sun set and the moon rose

When I was three

life was an adventure

swimming in the ocean

playing in the sand

oh… life was grand!